Injection molding machine

Abstract

An injection molding machine capable of opening/closing a movable mold relative to a stationary mold by moving a crosshead backward and forward to move a movable platen backward and forward relative to a stationary platen through a toggle link. The injection molding machine includes a reciprocating mechanism that receives a counterforce exerted on the crosshead in the back-and-forth direction when the movable mold and the stationary mold are closed, and a load acquisition unit that acquires a load exerted on the reciprocating mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An injection molding machine comprising:
 a stationary platen to which a stationary mold is attached; and 
 a movable platen to which a movable mold is attached; 
 the injection molding machine opening and closing the movable mold relative to the stationary mold by moving a crosshead backward and forward to moving the movable platen backward and forward relative to the stationary platen through a toggle link; 
 the injection molding machine further comprising: 
 a reciprocating mechanism configured to receive a counterforce exerted on the crosshead in a back-and-forth direction when the movable mold and the stationary mold are closed; and 
 a load acquisition unit configured to acquire a load exerted on the reciprocating mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead, wherein: 
 the load acquisition unit is provided in a hole defined around an outer periphery of a nut of the reciprocating mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The injection molding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the load acquisition unit has load cells which are respectively provided on upper and lower sides of the reciprocating mechanism. 
 
     
     
       3. The injection molding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the load acquisition unit has load cells which are respectively provided on both sides in a horizontal direction of the reciprocating mechanism when the load acquisition unit is viewed in the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead. 
 
     
     
       4. The injection molding machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the load acquisition unit has an inner peripheral cylinder portion fixed to the reciprocating mechanism and an outer peripheral cylinder portion fixed to the crosshead; and 
 the load cells connect the inner peripheral cylinder portion to the outer peripheral cylinder portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The injection molding machine according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the load acquisition unit has an inner peripheral cylinder portion fixed to the reciprocating mechanism and an outer peripheral cylinder portion fixed to the crosshead; and 
 the load cells connect the inner peripheral cylinder portion to the outer peripheral cylinder portion. 
 
     
     
       6. An injection molding machine comprising:
 a stationary platen to which a stationary mold is attached; and 
 a movable platen to which a movable mold is attached; 
 the injection molding machine opening and closing the movable mold relative to the stationary mold by moving a crosshead backward and forward to moving the movable platen backward and forward relative to the stationary platen through a toggle link; 
 the injection molding machine further comprising: 
 a reciprocating mechanism configured to receive a counterforce exerted on the crosshead in a back-and-forth direction when the movable mold and the stationary mold are closed; and 
 a load acquisition unit configured to acquire a load exerted on the reciprocating mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead, 
 wherein: 
 the load acquisition unit is provided on an arm of the crosshead, the arm being formed between the reciprocating mechanism and the toggle link, 
 the load acquisition unit is provided on the arm of the crosshead extending upward and is also provided on the arm of the crosshead extending downward, 
 the load acquisition unit has two load cells arranged separately in a horizontal direction when the load acquisition unit is viewed in the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead. 
 
     
     
       7. The injection molding machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the load acquisition unit has a first plate member and a second plate member; and 
 the load cells connect the first plate member to the second plate member. 
 
     
     
       8. An injection molding machine comprising:
 a stationary platen to which a stationary mold is attached; and 
 a movable platen to which a movable mold is attached; 
 the injection molding machine opening and closing the movable mold relative to the stationary mold by moving a crosshead backward and forward to moving the movable platen backward and forward relative to the stationary platen through a toggle link; 
 the injection molding machine further comprising: 
 a reciprocating mechanism configured to receive a counterforce exerted on the crosshead in a back-and-forth direction when the movable mold and the stationary mold are closed; 
 a load acquisition unit configured to acquire a load exerted on the reciprocating mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead; and 
 two separated guide rods configured to guide the crosshead in the back-and-forth direction, 
 wherein the load acquisition unit is provided such that the two separated guide rods are connected by the load acquisition unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The injection molding machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a usable period estimation unit that estimates a remaining usable period of the reciprocating mechanism based on the load acquired by the load acquisition unit and exerted in the direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead. 
 
     
     
       10. The injection molding machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a usable period estimation unit that estimates a remaining usable period of the reciprocating mechanism based on the load acquired by the load acquisition unit and exerted in the direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead. 
 
     
     
       11. The injection molding machine according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a usable period estimation unit that estimates a remaining usable period of the reciprocating mechanism based on the load acquired by the load acquisition unit and exerted in the direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead.